more muralage
Reader comment on item: The Islamic Society of Boston & the Politicians' Red Faces
in response to reader comment: ROXBURY CROSSING !

Submitted by Molly (United States), Aug 8, 2008 at 06:49

The murals are being done by high school students; I'm glad they have something to do while school's out. I don't think they're Muslim, or if some of them are, they don't dress traditionally.

I don't know if the students chose the content of the murals, but each side of those posts is now painted so that, when one is looking at the paintings, the subject of the painting is visible in the background. Said buildings happen to be the most distinctive buildings in view (i.e. the mosque one way and the cathedral the other way). If those buildings were a synagogue and a Buddhist temple, I'd bet that those would be painted on the station instead.

I mentioned Timothy McVeigh because you mentioned in one breath Islam and 9/11/01, which led me to think that you equate Islam with terrorism; I just wanted to issue a gentle reminder that good ol' American Catholic boys have also bombed a federal building.

I suppose I'm still confused as to why having a mural of the mosque is problematic and means the MBTA is giving preferential treatment to Islam, but having a mural of the cathedral doesn't mean the MBTA prefers Catholicism. Or why having a portrait of Melnea Cass on the building isn't mentioned at all, or the African-themed designs by the doors. The painting of the mosque is on one side of one column; many other aspects of the neighborhood are shown.

And you didn't answer my question about whether you've been to Roxbury Crossing lately to see the murals for yourself...I have seen them every day as they've developed; I've seen the kids painting them; I think they're doing a nice job, and as I said, I'm glad they're occupied while school's out. I don't think the mosque had any more to do with the mural than the cathedral did, although I could be mistaken.

By the way, being anti-Muslim has nothing to do with being anti-racist...Islam isn't a race.

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